She handed me a cup. “Jude, I wasn’t expecting you or else I would have brought you a coffee as well. How do you take it? Black, like your soul?”
He gave her a steely grin. “No, I take it sweet like you.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, and I gritted my teeth together. “I am not in the mood for bickering today.”
Jude checked the expensive black watch on his wrist. “Unfortunately, it’s not on my schedule either. Another time?” he asked Maya.
“I’ll pencil you in,” she replied, then sipped from her cup.
Jude brushed past us, leaving my office. As soon as the soft-close glass door shut, I said, “Would it kill you to make nice with the guy? He’s my best friend. And the CEO of the company that employs you.”
Her hazel eyes went wide, and she blinked like a little baby deer. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bossman, I didn’t realize kissing ass was a part of my job description. If so, I’ll get right on that.” She produced a tube of lipstick from her blazer pocket and took off the cap, dabbing it on.
Did she really keep it there as a prop? Before I could rib her about it, the phone rang on her desk. She tucked away the makeup and hurried out to answer it.
I sat at my desk to prepare for my meeting, but I didn’t work long before Maya was back in my office, eyes wide.
“What happened?” I asked her. “Did he cancel?”
She shook her head. “Jada asked to speak with you. When I asked her to schedule she said it was now or never.”
“And?” I asked urgently.
“I told her to come on up! What did you want me to say?”
I forced air into my lungs. “How did she sound? Could you tell anything from her tone?”
“She kept it short, and I didn’t ask any questions. We’re not exactly in a position to play hardball with the woman.”
“Fair,” I muttered, standing up to pace the floor again. The sun was fully risen now, bouncing off highrise windows and reflecting off vent covers. “Remind me why I didn’t want to take over the ranch again?” Baling hay and feeding cows sounded awfully appealing right now.
“You had this idea for a really cool software,” she said. “You wanted to build this awesome company so your niece could have a cool job after college. Duh.”
I gave her a helpless look over my shoulder. The business had seemed so important back then. How stupid. Cattle don’t talk back. They don’t care if you’re single or married. They just want their food every morning and their tanks full of fresh water. Easy.
This? Not so much.
Especially because, behind Maya, I could see a devastatingly beautiful woman approaching my office. Her dark eyes were guarded, expressionless, her shoulders square, her head held high.
My voice felt raw as I said, “Hello, Jada.”
26.Jada
Bryce sawme before his assistant did. His all-consuming gaze landed on me, making me feel utterly transparent.
My logical brain urged me to turn right around and run away to the nursery. But then his full lips lifted in a hopeful smile that had my stomach dancing in circles despite how nervous I felt. Or maybe it was the baby moving. I couldn’t tell. I felt so out of touch with my own body ever since my OB-GYN appointment the day before. There had been a whole baby in my body without me knowing it, for crying out loud! I had to keep rubbing my thumb over the ultrasound to remind myself this was real. I was going to be a mother, and I learned from the best that parents did whatever it took to give their children the best life possible.
Maya approached the door, walking easily in her shiny black heels, and held it open for me. “Jada, welcome. Can I get you a drink? Perhaps so you’ll have something to throw in his face later?”
I couldn’t help it—I laughed. It must have been my first time laughing since yesterday, because it sounded strange to my ears. “Maybe one oat milk latte to drink and one to toss?” I suggestedwith a weak smile. I swore Bryce’s already pale skin went a shade lighter.
“On it,” Maya said, sweeping out of the office.
Bryce and I were alone. I took him in, trying to find a reason to talk myself out of my plan.
His blue eyes were kind. His lips had a gentle tilt to them, giving him a welcoming appearance. And even in a suit, his athletic frame was easy to see. On our date, he’d told me he liked children and eventually wanted some of his own. He was the total package—aside from the marriage of convenience he proposed.
Setting his coffee down on his desk, he said, “I can guess why you’re here.” There was a heaviness to his voice that weighed on my heart. I felt it too for entirely different reasons.
